Mesothelioma’s End Stages
The staging system of cancer is a way to determine how advanced the disease is and how far any tumors have spread. This can help doctors determine life expectancy and treatments. There are a couple of different staging systems for mesothelioma: the Butchart staging system, the TNM staging system, and the Brigham staging system.
Essentially, all three staging systems describe Stage 4 mesothelioma as follows:
The cancer has spread throughout the pleural and lung area, entered the bloodstream, and traveled to distant organs. The cancer is no longer removable through surgery.
At this point, Stage 4 mesothelioma patients will likely experience severe coughing and chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, significant weight loss, fatigue, and more. Treatments including chemotherapy and minor surgery may help alleviate pain and other symptoms, but it is unlikely there will be any ceasing or reversing of the disease.
Can Mesothelioma Be Prevented?
No one wants to receive a cancer diagnosis, particularly one for late-stage cancer. Sadly, however, many mesothelioma patients are diagnosed in the later stages because the symptoms of the disease often do not present themselves for a long time after asbestos exposure.
The only way to prevent mesothelioma is to avoid contact with asbestos. However, this is not always possible. Sometimes, property owners or employers fail to detect or remove asbestos from their properties, endangering everyone nearby.
If you developed mesothelioma after asbestos exposure, our team is here to help. We have a strong track record of success in mesothelioma cases, and we have recovered millions for our clients.
Call Shrader & Associates L.L.P. at (713) 787-3733 for a free consultation.